I do not own Twilight or its characters. Stephenie Meyer does.
Gabby and April, thank you for pre-reading, and Fran, thank you for editing. Any mistakes left are my own. Each of these ladies are up for Twi Fandom Awards, as well as Fran's group Pay it Forward. Please don't forget to vote for them or any of your favorites.
Ch. 11
BPOV
I stepped out onto the balcony outside of Edward's bedroom—leaving him sleeping in the warm bed behind me.
The air was freezing and immediately chilled me to the bone. I shivered as I realized Edward's shirt wouldn't be enough to keep me warm. I altered the clothing a little; however, the stone under my feet still felt unnaturally cold.
I hoped that being outside would help clear my head so I could get some sleep. I've felt out of my element ever since arriving in New York City. How did people get by with so few trees, hardly any grass and all the other things nature had provided for us? I don't think I could ever get used to living where everyone seemed to be competing to get ahead.
Meeting Edward's family had been interesting and given me a lot to think about. My grandmother had taught me long ago how to read people's auras. It was why I was unconcerned with Jasper's questions on the island. His aura was yellow with some green mixed in. I knew it was a sense of loyalty and logical thinking that made him apprehensive. He still read as good guy.
Rosalie's aura was a bit surprising. On first look, one would think she was vain and selfish. However, where I could see she strived for perfection, her light brown aura glowed brighter than the other colors. Rosalie lacked self-confidence. My guess was the reason she tried so hard to insult me was that she felt insecure about her place in the family.
Esme, Edward's mother, had me second guessing mine and Edward's plans for the future. Where it was clear that she desired to be in the spotlight and admired by her peers, she also had a strong bond of love for her children. She didn't seem to disapprove of me as much as worrying about being separated from her son by so many miles. And that posed a huge problem.
Alice wasn't what I suspected at all, after how Edward described her. She was a very sweet girl. I never suspected the silver aura surrounding her…
The door opened behind me, breaking me out of my thoughts.
"Holy s…, Angel, it's freezing out here. Come back to bed." Edward hurried forward, swooping me up in his arms and carrying me back inside.
He tucked the covers around us tightly, and I snuggled into his side.
"Shoot, I forgot to close the door," he grumbled, starting to rise.
I beat him to it and closed it swiftly. He grinned and sagged back into the mattress.
"Thank you. Now what were you doing out there?" he asked.
"I couldn't sleep, too much on my mind," I explained.
"Like what? You're not worried about shopping tomorrow are you?" He seemed concerned.
"No. Alice seems very sweet, I'm sure we'll get along just fine," I reassured him.
"Speaking of my sister. Did you work your magic on her or something? I've never heard her talk about buying off-season clothes or clearance before." Edward chuckled sending vibrations through his chest.
"No. That was all her. She was adopted, right?" I asked casually.
"Yeah, but what does that have to do with anything." His eyebrows furrowed.
"Just wanted to double check my facts before I say anything embarrassing." I shrugged.
"Yes, my parents adopted her when she was about three. She doesn't remember anything before then, and it's as if she's always been with us." He rubbed my arm absentmindedly. "So if it wasn't Alice, what's been bothering you?"
"I think I've been incredibly selfish," I admitted.
He snorted but covered quickly with a smirk. "Angel, I don't think you know the meaning of the word. Why would you think that?"
"By keeping you on the island with me, your mother will miss you very much. Then there is making you immortal like me. In my excitement, I failed to think what that would mean for you and your family. Eventually, they'll wonder why we're not aging if we're around all the time. We would have to say good-bye to them sooner than later."
"Don't get me wrong, I love my mother and my family; however, I don't love our life here in New York. I found my home with you on the island, and you didn't force me into the decision, I made it on my own. My mother will have to learn to let go—many kids leave the nest and live in separate states than their parents. We can use technology to keep in touch." He rolled over, so we were face to face.
"What about your magic? Can you use that to alter our appearances? Can't you give us gray hair and wrinkles?" he suggested.
"I can. That's what my grandmother did. When she took the enhancements off, she looked like my twin," I recollected.
"Did Jamerson kill her too?" He reached out and brushed a stray tear away from my cheek.
"Yes, she hoped to lead him away from me, and failed." I frowned.
"I'm sorry, Angel," he said softly.
"It was a long time ago," I said wistfully.
"Well, I know one way to get your mind off things." Edward grinned adorably before rolling on top of me.
O
"This one, this one, no, this one, no," Alice muttered going through a rack of clothes.
The ones she chose, she quickly moved to another rack. There were a variety of colors and styles of garments, and the store had set us up in a private room, away from the rest of the customers. The experience was a little overwhelming, and I was glad to have some help. Luckily, Alice seemed to be in her element.
"I don't wear shorts or pants," I spoke up as Alice had a pair in her hands.
She glanced up with curiosity. "So just skirts and dresses then?"
I nodded, and she put the shorts back and found a pretty, dark pink dress in its place. Meanwhile, Rose came out of a small, curtained-off area. She stepped in front of a three-way mirror and twisted from side to side—the red dress she had on fit her like a glove.
"What do you think?" Rose asked.
Alice glanced up at her. "It looks nice. But we're here for Bella."
Rose didn't respond right away; her head tilted to the side as she stared at herself. Her eyes looked vacant and unfocused.
Overwhelmed by curiosity, I looked into her mind. I was shocked to see the image that Rose had of herself was different from what I could see. She saw herself as an overweight girl that stuffed herself into a dress too small for her.
"That dress makes you look fat, Rosalie. Have you been eating carbs again? Remember, you'll only be able to keep a man, while you have your looks," a harsh woman's voice berated Rose.
I blocked Rose out again, ashamed of myself for prying. However, I was also deeply concerned for Rose's well-being.
"I think Emmett, will love it. It looks very becoming on you," I commented.
"Oh, what do you know? It's clear you know nothing about fashion." Rose scowled.
She stomped off into the dressing room and reappeared a few minutes later. "I'm bored, I'm going to take off."
"Fine. See you at the dinner. I still think you should wear the red dress we got at Saks," Alice mentioned without glancing away from the rack.
"We'll see, I may have to lose a bit. I think it shrunk when it was pressed." Rose gathered her things.
"Rose, I hope you and Emmett will join us for dinner tomorrow night," I offered.
She hesitated before agreeing and left quickly after.
"You may regret that. She's the pickiest person I know when it comes to food. You should just ignore her—we all do," Alice commented.
I bit my lower lip. Maybe that was part of the problem. Not that it excuses her horrible behavior, but Rose was clearly suffering in her own mind. I wondered if there was anything I could do to help her see who she truly was.
"Okay, let's start trying this stuff on." Alice pushed her rack towards the curtains.
"Why don't you just tell me what will look good so we can save time?" I raised an eyebrow.
Alice whirled around and looked at me wide-eyed. "How would I know?"
I remained silent, and she started to squirm. She glanced at the door to the room and hesitated for a moment.
"How much do you know?" she asked.
"Funny, I was going to ask you the same thing." I smirked.
"So it's all true then? I didn't know for sure. I just get these weird dreams, and most of the time they come true." Alice looked nervous.
"You're psychic, I'm betting that you have gypsy blood in your family line," I explained with a smile.
I wanted her to know that I was not a threat to her. Although, she may be one to me—even if it was unintentional. I knew that I had to talk with her to make sure she remained a kindred spirit.
"Does this mean you're really a witch, slash former mermaid?" Alice whispered incredulously.
I nodded silently, and then changed the dress I was wearing back into her original one, in just my size.
"Wow! That is seriously cool, I wish I could do that." Alice's eyes widened.
"Maybe I can help you out sometimes," I suggested. "Alice, have you told anyone about your dream of me?"
Alice blushed and bit her lip. "Jasper. But he thought I was crazy," she added quickly.
I nodded. That would explain his suspicions, but he didn't seem to be a believer. I would have to keep my eye on him and be careful around him.
"I'm sorry. Please don't hurt him or me," Alice said meekly.
"I would never, but please don't mention my magic, again—even to Jasper. As you understand, I must keep it a secret," I explained.
"Of course," she agreed.
She looked back at the clothes. "I guess you really don't need all of these. I saw that you wouldn't care for shopping and only ended up with a few bags. Now I know why."
"I could use a few for appearances, but I don't see the purpose of spending Edward's money when I don't have the need," I answered.
"I'm glad you found my brother. Can I ask you some questions; I swear I won't breathe it to a soul," Alice asked, hope brimming in her eyes.
"Yes, but let's get out of here and go somewhere more private," I promised.
A/N:
So what do you think of Bella's assessment of Edward's family? And what about Alice? She's not a witch like Bella; however, she does have a psychic gift. That being said do you blame Jasper now for being a bit paranoid around Bella? His girlfriend did tell him Edward would meet a mermaid/witch and fall in love.
Thank you for all the love and reviews you have given my story.
